I am a Girl basketball program hosted by Port Macquarie Basketball Association and Basketball NSW

It's part of the reason why they ran the I am a Girl basketball program in Port Macquarie on July 6 with the help of Basketball NSW.

PMBA attracts teams from Kempsey to Laurieton, yet only one in four of their junior basketball players from the ages of nine to 15 are girls.

Nationally, half of all teenage girls quit sport by the age of 17.

PMBA board member Deb Burghardt said the program aimed to create a platform to encourage females of all ages to play, referee, coach, officiate and administrate basketball. The program is a pathway in developing female role models.

"We have young Australian girls playing for the Opals who are 18 and 19 years of age so we want these girls to aspire to that sort of thing and to want to be the best they can be," she said.

"That may not be at Australian level, that may simply be playing domestic and scoring a basket.

"I've always been passionate about increasing female participation and encouraging them to get down and to do as much as they possibly can."

Around 60 children took part in the come and try day and Ms Burghardt was hopeful it would see an increase in playing numbers in years to come.

"Unfortunately the participation numbers were down across Australia in most sports but with COVID we've taken another hit," she said.

"We need to encourage these girls to come out, try it and make the sport an attractive, viable proposition to come and enjoy."

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